the bathroom door was safely shut behind her and she heard the shower taps snap on, Charlotte bolted for the other room, dropping her things on one of the sofas and picking up the phone. Once she had an outside line she punched in her home number. She simply had to talk to Louise, had to have some common sense talked to her. And fast!
‘Yes,’ a foggy voice answered.
‘Louise, it’s me. Wake up.’
‘Charlotte! Brad, it’s Charlotte!’
‘I don’t want a three-way conversation, thanks,’ Charlotte said sharply. ‘I want to talk to you and only you.’
She heard some muffled sounds in the background before Louise came back on the line.
‘I’m on my way to the kitchen right now. Shoot!’
‘Tell me again it’s only lust.’
‘Oooh. That good, eh?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then it’s definitely only lust. A specially addictive kind. There’ll be no going back now, sweetie.’
‘So you don’t think I’ve fallen in love with the man?’
‘Nah. What’s to love?’
Charlotte could think of many things to love about Daniel. He wasn’t just a stud. He was kind, and intelligent, and sensitive, and successful, and generous.
Her heart contracted as she thought of how he’d given her father all that money. Thousands, it must have been. He needn’t have done that. She’d been angry at the time but that had been her problem, not Daniel’s. She must have seemed awfully ungrateful to him.
‘Hey there!’ Louise said. ‘Why so quiet all of a sudden?’
‘No reason. Louise, could you do me a favour?’
‘Anything.’
‘Pack a bag for me. There’s a navy sports bag in the bottom of my wardrobe. Throw in all those new clothes I bought for my honeymoon. And whatever accessories you think I’ll need. I already have my make-up, perfume and toiletries with me, so you don’t have to worry about those. I’ll be by to pick it up around twelve-thirty.’
‘I won’t be here by then. Brad’s taking me to his house for a barbeque.’
‘Oh…’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll pack it and leave it near the front door. Gosh, I’m so glad last night was a success, but I can’t stay and chat. Not if I have to pack you a bag and get ready myself. Brad’s just come in and given me strict orders to hurry.’
‘That’s fine. Thanks, Louise.’
‘No sweat. Take care.’
Louise hung up with Brad still looking impatiently at her. He came forward and pulled her into his arms. ‘Forget the coffee and come back to bed.’
‘I can’t. I have to pack Charlotte a bag before we go.’
‘Why can’t she pack her own bag?’
‘Because she wants to get lover-boy up to the Hunter Valley as soon as possible, I guess. Have some more of whatever she had last night.’
‘And you don’t?’ He looked offended.
‘I would have thought after six months of continual sex you’d have had enough by now.’
‘I’ll never have enough of you, babe. When are you going to realise that?’
Louise didn’t reply. Impossible with Brad’s mouth clamped solidly over hers. But underneath his kiss, her heart was doing strange things. Damn that wedding yesterday. It made a girl want things. And think things. And feel things.
Maybe the time had come to give love another chance.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
‘I’M SORRY about this, sis,’ Daniel said as he hastily repacked the clothes he’d unpacked a couple of days earlier. ‘I know you must be disappointed.’
‘Yes, and no,’ Beth replied.
Daniel flicked her a questioning glance. ‘Meaning?’
‘I had been looking forward to your stay. I won’t deny it. I’ve been lonely since I gave up work to have this baby. But I’m willing to sacrifice the immediate pleasure of your company for the long term.’
Daniel zipped up his natty travelling case then glanced up at his sister again. ‘Meaning?’
She smiled. ‘I know my big brother well enough to know when he’s finally fallen in love.’
Daniel’s smile was wry. ‘Have I been that obvious?’
‘Afraid so. Vince said it was written all over your face at the wedding. Says he’s never seen a groom so much in love with a bride.’
‘It took me a while to realise the truth. But when I did, I have to tell you, Beth, I was blown away. True love’s pretty powerful, isn’t it?’
Her eyes went all soft. ‘Yes, Daniel. It is.’
‘I’d do anything for her.’
‘I can see that.’
He sighed. ‘I’m worried Charlotte might never feel the same way. I mean…this could all be rebound stuff.’ He didn’t like to say he thought it might be just sex.
‘Could be,’ Beth replied. ‘She must have at least thought she was in love with that other man, if she was going to marry him. But she’s obviously very attracted to you. The girl I met on Friday would not be taking you with her on her honeymoon if her own feelings weren’t pretty powerful. She didn’t strike me as the promiscuous type.’
‘She’s not,’ Daniel agreed, feeling marginally better with Beth’s reminder of Charlotte’s good character.
‘Then be careful, Daniel. She has to be confused right now. She’s going to need time to sort out her feelings.’
‘How much time?’
‘You’ll have to play it by ear, darling. Just be your usual confident, charming self and I’m sure she’ll be yours in the end.’
Daniel wasn’t so sure. Charlotte was different from every woman he’d ever been with. She didn’t seem all that impressed with his charm. Or his wealth. She only seemed interested in his body.
Which was certainly putting the boot on the other foot. In the past, that was all he’d been interested in when it came to women. Sex. Most of them hadn’t liked being reduced to sex objects. He could now understand exactly how they felt.
‘Charlotte inferred over breakfast that after this honeymoon
